AIR

Clean air is a critical component to our health. Air pollution is the number one environmental cause of premature mortality, contributing to 50,000 premature deaths annually in the United States and approximately 7 million, or one in eight premature deaths worldwide.

Globally, outdoor air quality is deteriorating due to pollution from traffic, construction, agricultural activity, combustion sources and particulate matter. Indoor air quality can be degraded by these outdoor sources, as well as by off-gassing from building materials, indoor combustion sources and water leaks. Poor ventilation practices can fail to address these sources, exposing us to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and microbial pathogens. Another way in which indoor air quality may be diminished is via surfaces, which can accumulate airborne germs. All of these contaminants contribute to a range of negative health outcomes such as asthma, allergies and other upper respiratory illnesses.

In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) according to ongoing research and monitoring. To help minimize transmission through contact with unsanitary surfaces, the WELL Building Standard provides an approach that combines the installation of appropriate materials with the implementation of effective protocols to regularly disinfect targeted areas. In addition to limiting pollutant and contaminant concentrations, WELL incorporates best practices from industry organizations, whose guidelines are evidence-based and recommended by professionals.